Image source, Getty Images

Struggling engineering firm BiFab has been put into administration after failing to secure any new contracts.

It comes despite the firm, which has plants in Fife and Lewis, receiving £52m from the Scottish government.

However, in a statement, the firm said: "BiFab can confirm that the board has agreed to place the company in administration following the Scottish government's decision to remove contract assurances."

It said it had been unable to compete.

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Willie Rennie agrees that the 2021 exams should be cancelled and points out that on any given day there are up to 30,000 pupils and 1,500 teachers absent due to Covid.

The Scottish Lib Dems leader says the Welsh government cancelled the exams weeks ago and calls on the first minister to cancel the exams now.

The government is thinking very carefully on this subject, replies the first minister, who adds there are no simple answers to the exams issue.

Ms Sturgeon stresses the importance of taking the time to get this right and that there is an argument that a conclusion should be reached earlier than mid-February.

Image source, PA Media

Patrick Harvie asks the first minister about exams for school students.

The Scottish Greens co-leader points out that one in four S4 to S6 students have already had at least one Covid-related absence this term.

Young people have endured “enough stress and anxiety this year to last a lifetime”, he says, and suggests that higher and advanced higher exams cannot go ahead.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the government wants the exams to proceed but the public health confidence must allow that. Contingency plans are being developed and a decision will be made no later than February.

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Mr Leonard turns to concerns about vaccinations getting to care homes.

The first minister says the Scottish government will publish a road map with the dates for when vaccinations will be achieved.

Ms Sturgeon explains discussions are under way to deal with getting the Pfizer vaccine to care homes, given the logistical challenge.

All four governments are very keen to see a resolution to the difficulties as quickly as possible she adds.

Mr Leonard stresses the importance of as many people as possible receiving the Covid vaccine - and the fact that public confidence that it is safe will be critical to that.

The Scottish Labour leader says the vaccine has been tested to the highest possible standard, but there is a spread of "dangerous misinformation" that seeks to persuade people otherwise.

What is the plan to deal with vaccine scepticism in Scotland, he asks.

The first minister agrees "we all have a responsibility to persuade people that they should come forward for vaccination, that it is safe and that it is in their interests and our collective interests that the maximum number of people take up this opportunity".

Ms Sturgeon insists: "No corners have been cut in the regulatory process."

She goes on to say: "People can have confidence in this vaccine."

There is weekly polling to assess public attitudes on Covid and it will include issues around vaccination and the health secretary will detail information for MSPs to use to counter the myths and misinformation next week, confirms the first minister.

It is absolutely vital that everybody takes this responsibility very seriously, she says, adding she will have her sleeve rolled up as soon as she is eligible for the vaccine.

Richard Leonard says the roll-out of the flu vaccination has been problematic.

The Scottish Labour leader details the case of one person whose experience of trying to get the flu jab was a bad one.

He says many people have had the same experience - but points out this was the experience of renowned virus expert Professor Hugh Pennington.

"Are you really going to leave the current minister for public health in charge of this?"

The first minister replies that the flu vaccination programme had to be delivered differently this year because of the challenges of Covid.

She accepts that there were some problems and issues in some NHS boards, but adds the programme is now progressing extremely well.

The first minister says, in terms of responsibility for all aspects of the Covid vaccine and response, ministers are collectively responsible.

She adds: "Ultimately on all of these things, of course, the buck stops with me."

The vaccine "gives us hope for the future and gives us that light at the end of the tunnel and it is vital it proceeds as quickly as possible", she says.

Image source, Scottish Labour

Richard Leonard begins with a warm tribute to former Labour MP Maria Fyfe, who has died aged 82.

The Scottish Labour leader sends his condolences to the family of Ms Fyfe.

The first minister also expresses her condolences to the family and friends on the passing of the former Glasgow MP.

Ms Sturgeon praises the inspirational politician and says many people owe her a debt of gratitude.

Ms Fyfe was the Labour MP for Glasgow Maryhill from 1987 to 2001.

She served as a shadow minister for women and campaigned for equal representation at the Scottish Parliament when it was set up in 1999.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottish Conservative group leader Ruth Davidson says she understands it will be extremely difficult to take the first vaccine to care homes, where residents are high on the priority list for vaccination.

Many residents are too frail or vulnerable to travel to the hubs where the vaccines are, she says.

“What is the plan for care home residents,” she asks.

Nicola Sturgeon says the problem with the vaccine needing to be stored at ultra-low temperatures is not unique to Scotland, but they will use vaccines as soon as they become available in line with the order of prioritisation.

She says if they can’t get them to care homes they will use the first doses of vaccine for NHS and care home staff. Care home residents will get vaccinated as soon as possible, she adds.

Ms Davidson asks when a full list of vaccination venues will be provided.

The first minister says there are difficulties with the Pfizer vaccine, which currently needs to be delivered close to deployment centres because of the temperature it is stored at.

Mass vaccination centres will come on stream later when we have sufficient quantities of the vaccine, Ms Sturgeon says.

She adds that not all of the vaccines they hope will be approved in the future have the same characteristics or storage and temperature requirements.

Image source, Reuters

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservative group at Holyrood, asks the first minister whether freezers are already in place in each health board to store the Pfizer vaccine, which has to be kept at -70C.

Nicola Sturgeon says there are 23 freezers spread across all the health boards, ahead of the arrival of the first batch of 65,000 doses of the vaccine by Tuesday.

“There is no issue more important to this government right now than to make sure this vaccine programme works efficiently and effectively,” she adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Care homes will not receive the first batches of the Covid vaccine in Scotland because of problems transporting small doses around the country.

The health secretary has said about 65,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will arrive in Scotland by next Tuesday.

They will initially be stored in freezers at -70C in packs of 997 doses.

The first people to receive the jab may have to travel to where the doses are being held.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said that means care homes would have to wait until the issue of breaking down the vaccines packs into smaller doses is resolved.

She told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The doses come to us in packs of 997 and we need to know to what degree we can pack that down into smaller pack sizes.

"If we can't, then we absolutely need to bring those who need to be vaccinated to those freezers - to the centres - because there is a limit to how much you can transport the doses once you have defrosted them.

"We don't want to waste any of this vaccine so it's not possible at this point to take it in smaller doses into, for example, care homes."

• Read more here
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The first minister highlights the health secretary will make a statement on the Covid vaccination programme from at Holyrood 2.55pm.

You can watch that here with us on this live page.

The Scottish government is preparing for the first vaccinations to take place on Tuesday 8 December.

Ms Sturgeon says there are difficult months ahead but the news on vaccines will make people more hopeful.

She calls on us all to follow the guidance, rules and FACTS:

Image source, Scottish government

1. Scottish government:Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you can and cannot do, external

View guidance for the festive period, external. Full guidance and latest figures on the government's main Coronavirus page, external.

2. Postcode checker, external for COVID restrictions by protection level in areas of Scotland

3. NHS Inform, external

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon turns to evictions and says the Scottish government effectively banned them if due to Covid during the pandemic.

The first minister explains the legislation is in place until March 2021, but does not apply to eviction actions raised before the pandemic.

She says the housing minister will introduce regulations to legally prevent any eviction notices during the six-week period from 11 December to 22 January, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The first minister confirms there will be no extension to Scotland's school Christmas holidays.

Talks had been held about potentially shutting all schools on 18 December and reopening them again on 11 January.

Holiday dates in Scotland vary between different council areas, with many schools due to finish on 22 or 23 December before returning between 5 and 7 January.

The first minister says the R number continues to be shown to be just below one, providing further evidence that the restrictions in place are having the desired effect.

Ms Sturgeon says that is why there have been no changes to the current restrictions in council areas.

Nicola Sturgeon confirms a further 958 people have tested positive for Covid-19. That is 4.3 % of the total number of tests carried out.

This takes the total number of positive cases in Scotland to 97,720.

982 patients are in hospital with a confirmed case (down nine), with 69 being treated in intensive care (up one).

A further 51 people who tested positive have died, taking the total to 3,848 deaths in Scotland by that measure.

1. Scottish government: Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you can and cannot do, external

View guidance for the festive period, external. Full guidance and latest figures on the government's main Coronavirus page, external.

2. Postcode checker, external for COVID restrictions by protection level in areas of Scotland

3. NHS Inform, external

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing, face covering and stay at home advice.

4. Test and Protect, external

If you have Covid-19 symptoms go immediately to NHS Inform online or phone 0800 028 2816 to book a test

5. The ready.scot, external website

It has been updated with the latest help and advice and how you can help others. The helpline number remains: 0800 111 4000

6. The Clear Your Head website, external

It's ok to not feel yourself right now, here are some tips to help get you through the pandemic.